Knitting machine



Jan. 9, 1934. H. E. HOUSEMAN KNITTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 11. 1931 DUB UDDODDDDO DDDD GOD DOD DUDUD DUDDDDD flare/d f. fl wma n 6y /Z44vr Y Ar ORA/5V5.

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Jan. 9, 1934. H. E. HQUSEMAN KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 11, 1931 5Sheets-Sheet 2 iii. *66

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Jan. 9, 1934. H. E, HOUSEMAN 1,942,816

KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 11. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 flarofc/ 5 //0aacrrran i atenteci Jan. 9 1934 PATENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE Harold E.Houseman, Edge Moor, Del., assignor to Standard-Trump Bros. MachineCompany, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application April11, 1931. Serial No. 529,519

17 Claims.

This invention relates to a knitting machine and particularly yarnchanging mechanism for such machine effective, for example, to changefrom a body yarn to a heel and toe yarn in the knitting of the stocking.

The arrangement particularly forming the subject matter of the inventionis eifective to change the yarn in an embroidery stripe machine of thetype illustrated in the application of Stanley R. Shelmire, SerialNumber 469,056, filed July 19, 1930. In this machine, which is of thestationary needle cylinder-rotating cam type, wrap fingers'carried by asuitable head extend downwardly with their lower ends within the Ineedle circle and closely adjacent to the needles. This arrangementoffers difficulty in yarn changing since the common devices whichinclude clamping and cutting mechanisms within the circle of needlescannot be used, not onlybecause of the wrap fingers themselves butprimarily since yarns extend from these wrap fingers to the fabric thusforming, in effect, a circular cage which precludes the positioning ofthe main yarn to any extent within the circle of needles. In thiscommonly used device the taking of yarn by the needles is very readilyeffected since the yarn extending from an inactive finger projectsacross the needle circle and its lowering alone is sufficient to engagethe yarn with the 6 needles.

Devices are known which provide both yarn fingers and clamping andcutting devices outide of the needle circle and introduce a new yarn tothe needles by means of a placer wheel,

05 which pushes it under the hooks, or by having the needle latches asthey close swing the yarn under the needle hooks. Such devices arehowever uncertain in operation. Accordingly where Wrapping mechanismofthe type illustrated in the Shelmire application has been used, it hasbeen the usual practice to either change to another yarn by hand,stopping the machine when such change is to be made, or, to twist areinforcing yarn for the'heel and toe upon the body yarn, cutting it outautomatically when. the heel or toe is finished.

It is a broad object of the present invention to provide means wherebyyarn changing may be properly and positively effected automatically in amachine of the character referred to. While the invention, as will beseen hereafter, is applicable to machines which do not involve wrap--ping, nevertheless it is particularly applicable to such machinesinasmuch as interference with the wrap fingers is avoided, the mechanismbeing capable of acting properly, even though the wrap fingers are invery close proximity to the needles, for example, not more thanone-eighth of an inch distant therefrom.

More specifically, the device operates by carrying the yarn to beinserted to a very slight degree inside the needle circle and somanipulating the yarn outside the needle circle that it is carried downbetween needles so as to be engaged by one of them. 5

Other objects of the invention relating particularly to details ofconstruction will be apparent from the following description read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 7

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of the parts of the machineadjacent the top of the needle cylinder;

Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section of details of the yarn changingmechanism viewed in the same direction as Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an inside elevation of certain of these elements;

Fig. 4 is an outside elevation partly in section of the actuatingmechanism for the yarn changing elements;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same;

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 are diagrammatic perspective views illustrating theoperation of taking a new' yarn;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged horizontal section illustrating the clamping ofthe yarn by the cutter;

Fig. 10 is a plan view partly in section showing the controlling camarrangement;

Fig. 11 is a developed inside view of a preferred arrangement of needlecams;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified arrangement; and

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the modified arrangement of Fig. 12.

The knitting machine to which the yarn changing devices are applied inthe present instanceis of the type illustrated in the Shelmireapplication referred to above comprising a stae tionary needle cylinder2 in slots in which reciprocate the independent latch needles 4 withwhich cooperate the radially movable sinkers 6, the needles beingreciprocated axially of the needle cylinder by suitable knitting camsindicated generally at 8, the sinkers also being movable by suitablecams carried by the usual sinker cap. Since the needle cylinder isstationary, the needle and sinker cams and other devices are carried bythe rotating member 10 which, among other devices, carries the bracket12 supporting the various elements controlling the selective wrappingoperations and also changes of yarn. Selective operations of the variousparts during the cycle of formation of a stocking or the like arecontrolled by the usual cam disc 14 which is intermittently steppedaround and carries cams cooperating with suitable followers:

Located above the needle cylinder and arranged to be stationary relativethereto during the knitting operation, except for slight shoggingmovements, is a wrap finger cylinder 16 in which are pivoted wrapfingers 18 provided with eyes at their lower ends to carry wrap yarns.These wrap fingers are selectively rocked by engagement with buttsthereof of cam levers 20 selectively moved inwardly to effect outwardmovements of the wrap fingers under the control of an intermittentlystepped trick wheel 22. The wrap fingers are returned by a return camacting below their pivots. The operation and control of these wrapfingers is described in the Shelmire application referred to above andno further reference need be made thereto. It is only to be noted, sofar as the present case is concerned, that these wrap fingers arelocated within the needle circle quite close to the needles and thatduring the progress of knitting yarns extend from the wrap fingers tothe fabric forming an annular cage precluding the movement of the bodyyarns to the position normally occupied by the usual clamping andcutting devices.

A plurality of yarn fingers are provided, in the present instance twobeing illustrated at 24 and 26, the former being provided with aplurality of holes through which may be threaded one or more body yarnsfor the formation of the leg of a stocking and the latter being providedwith one or more holes for guiding suitable yarn for the heel and toe.These fingers are pivoted upon a transverse pin 28 carried by thebracket 12, their outer ends being acted upon by-springs 30 so as tonormallymove their inner ends into lower or active positions.

Pivoted also upon the pin 28 is the depresser lever 32 the outer end ofwhich is acted upon by a spring 34 similar to the springs 80 andlikewise acting to move the inner end of the depresser lever downwardly.The depresser lever is provided with-a pin 36 extending laterallytherefrom across both of the yarn fingers 24 and 26 so that when eitherof these yarn fingers is raised the depresser lever 32 is also held inraisedposition against the action of the spring 34. The lever 32 isprovided at its inner extremity with a yarn engaging head 38 arranged tomove downwardly outside the circle of needles but closely adjacentthereto to depress a yarn to such position that it will be engagedwithin the needle hooks as will be hereafter more fully broughtout.

The lever 32 is also provided with a pin 40 engageable within a slot 42formed in a carrier lever 44 pivoted at 45 to the bracket and carryingat its inner end a yarn hook46. When the carrier and depresser areinactive they occupy the .positions illustrated in Fig. 1 at which timethe pin 40 occupies the upper end of the slot 42 so that when thedepresser is raised the carrier is retracted, the hook 46 being locatedwell outside the needle circle. On the other hand when the depresser islowered the pin 40 rides downwardly through the slot 42 and finallycomes to rest in the position illustrated in Fig. 21 engaging a. face47' of the member 44 and holding the hook 46 inside the needle circle.At this time a suitable tail provided on the member 44engages aneccentric stop pin 48, this stop pin being adjusted relative to thelowermost position of pin 40 so that the carrier or placer is heldwithout substantial play in the position illustrated in Fig. 2.

A ledger blade 52 is carried by the bracket 12, there being pivotedthereto a movable cutting knife 50 in the form of a bell crank. Securedto the same stud on which this cutter blade is pivoted is a springclamping element 54, the tension of which against the cutter blade maybe adjusted through the medium of the adjusting screw 56 threaded in theledger blade and engaging the upper end of the clamp 54 so as to causeits lower end to move yieldingly inwardly against the movable blade, thehead of the attaching screw acting as a fulcrum.

The outwardly extending arm of the blade 50 is provided with a pin 58engaging within a slot in the head of an adjustable screw 60 threadedinto the inwardly extending arm of a lever 62 pivoted to the bracket,this "lever being urged in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5 bya spring 64 to bring a follower end 66 into engagement with a combinedcam and ratchet 78 secured to a shaft 80 pivoted in the bracket.

A cam following lever 68 pivoted at 70 to the bracket and urged inwardlyby a spring '72 has formed therein a slot 69 into which extends a pin 71carried by a member '73 pivoted about the axis of shaft 80. To themember 73 is pivoted a pawl 74 urged inwardly against the ratchet '78 bya spring 76. It will be clear from this arrangement, illustratedparticularly in Fig. 5, that oscillatory movements imparted to the lever68 result'in intermittent stepping movements of the ratchet wheel 78 andshaft 80, the ratchet wheel'78 notonly functioning as such but alsoacting upon the lever 62 to operate the knife blade 50.

Fastened to the shaft'80 are cam members 82, 84 and 86 arranged tooperate respectively upon downwardly extending extensions of yarnfingers 24 and 26 and the depresser 32.

The lever 68 carries at its outer and lower end a roller'88 arranged tobe acted upon by a cam 90 which, as illustrated in Fig. 10, is providedwith cam surfaces 92, 94 and 96. The cam 90 is carried by an upwardlyextending arm 98 of a member pivoted on a stud 100, which member" isprovided with three arms carrying respectively adjustable stop screw 102engageable with the frame to limit movement in one direction, a sec- 0ndadjustable stop screw 104 engageable with the frame to limit movement inthe opposite direction and an adjustable cam following screw 106engageable by suitable cams 108 carried by the main cam disc 14. Theoperation of these elements will be hereafter described.

Referring to Fig. 11, the upper center needle cam is illustrated at 110,the two stitch drawingcams being illustrated at 112 and 114respectively. This cam arrangement is as usual, except that the lowerextremity of the cam 110 is recessed as indicated at 116 whereby it willnot depress fully one or more needles 118 provided with very shortbutts, that is, shorter than the usual buttstion of the modification sofar described the maproduces several effects.

:is still being taken by the needles.

drawn, after being seized by a needle, it passes chine will be assumedoperating on the leg of the stocking, that is, the finger 24 will be inlowered position feeding the body yarn to the needles.

At this time the heel finger 26 will be raised, the yarn Y floatingtherefrom to the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 9 between theclosed blade 50 and the clamping device 54, the tension of which willhave been properly adjustedby the screw 56. The depresser 38 will be inraised position, the carrier being in its corresponding retractedposition, as illustrated in Fig. 1. As the parts move around the roller88 will not engage the cam 90 but will pass inwardly thereof, inasmuchas the cam 90 will maintain its outward position, under the action ofspring 103 since the follower 106 will not be acted upon by any cam Ifnow a yarn change is to take place the cam disc 14 is stepped aboutbringing a cam 108 into engagement with the follower 106 to rock the cam90 inwardly, this inward movement generally taking place to an extentwhich will not quite bring the stop screw 102 into contact withtheframe. As the roller 88 now comes around it will ride up surface 92 ofthe cam, this action tending first to move the stop screw 102 intocontact with the frame, the lever 68 being thereafter rocked impartingan initial movement to the shaft through the ratchet. This initialmovement First, the cam member 84 moves about to such position as torelease, the finger 26 which is moved downwardly by its spring 30.Simultaneously with this movement the spring 34 moves the presserdownwardly whereby outward movement of the member 44 carrying the hook46 also takes place. During this movement the yarn is forced inwardly bythe advancing edge of the member 44 and is engaged between the member 44and the finger 26 by the depresser 38. The final movement of thisdepressser causes the yarn to move downwardly into the hook 46 which bythis time has swung inwardly of the needle, as indicated in Fig. 6. Itwill thus be seen that the yarn may be brought across the circle ofneedles and below the hooks between some pair of needles whereupon-itwill be engaged by one of them and carried as indicated in Fig.

'7 so as to be eventually drawn down into the stitches with the yarnfrom the finger 24 which As the yarn is from the supply through thefinger 26 and beneath the depresser, being still held between themovable blade and the member 54 and passing therefrom through the hook46.

' by the cam 110. It is found, however, that by positioning the book 46suificiently close to the needle circle and depressing the yarn outsidethe needle circle to a sufficient degree by the member 38, that the yarnwill be properly seized even without the use of the floating needles.

By the time the yarn is initially drawn through the loops so as to bepositively incorporated in the fabric the roller 88 will start riding upthe cam surface 94. The initial effect of this movement is to producetwo operations. First, the

blade 5 0 .is moved to open position under the action of spring 64 bythe release of the follower portion 66 of lever 62 from a tooth 78 uponwhich it was previously located. At the same time lever 32 is raised byone of the projections on cam member 86, this action resulting not onlyin the lifting of the depressing element 38 but also the retraction ofthe member 44. As the roller 88 then finally rides up on the surface 94a still further movement isimparted to the shaft 80 resulting in thelifting of finger 24 out of action by one of the projections on the cammember 82. As the finger 24 is so raised the yarn extending therefrom tothe needle circle is moved upwardly over the hook of the member 54 inthe path of the blade 50. It may be noted that at this time the yarnfrom finger 26 is being knitted into the fabric. The movement of shaft80 which results in rise of finger 24 causes a release of element 32which thereupon drops until pin 36 rests on the raised finger.

As further rotation takes place the roller rides up cam surface 96imparting a further movement to the shaft 80 resulting in action uponthe lever 62 to cause the blade 50 to sever the yarn which is beingremoved. At the time of this severing movement the yarn is also clampedbetween the movable blade and member 54.

Immediately following this cycle of operation a further movement isimparted to the pattern disc 14 so that the follower 106 rides oil thecam 108. The cam then moves outwardly and is thereafter not engaged bythe roller 88 during the rotation of the latter.

The next time a yarn change takes place, the finger 24 will drop andfinger 26 will be raised with corresponding operations of the otherelements. That is, the cams on shaft 80 are properly arranged to effectthis alternate operation.

While the modification above described is preferred, that illustrated inFigs. 12 and 13 may be adopted where there is suflicient space withinthe needle circle to permit an element of moderate size to extendtherein. In this modification there is provided, as in the previous one,a stationary ledger blade 120, a movable blade 122 and a flexibleclamping member 124, the pressure of which on the movable blade may beadjusted. A guard member 126 extends in spaced relationship to themember 124 as illustrated, being. provided with a notch 128 for thereception of a'yarn extending from the idle finger to the clampingdevice. Arranged to rock between the members 124 and 126 is the arm 136provided with a notched inner end, as indicated at 132, this arm havinga cam following extension 134 arranged to be acted upon by a cam 136which may be similar .to cam 86 and mounted on .a shaft actuated thesame as shaft 80. A spring 138 maintains the following portion 134 incontact with the same.

Inthe operation of this modification the yarn, when raised by a fingerwhich is moved to idle position, passes into the notch 128 which alignsit properly for reception in the notch 132 of the By arranging the yarnso that the in this case is substantially as brought out above 15;

in connection with the previous modification, the single arm in thiscase taking the place of the combination of elements 46 and 38.

t will be clear that numerous modifications of the preferredarrangements'may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention as defined by the following claims. While the invention isillustrated as applied to a machine having a stationary needle cylinder,it will be obvious that it is equally applicable to a rotary needlemachine.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A knitting machine including a circle of independently movableneedles and elements cooperating therewith to form stitches, saidelements including yarn feeding fingers and clamping and cutting meanslocated outside the needle circle, and means arranged to engage a yarnwhich is to be rendered active and locate it in position to be engagedby a needle, said last named means including one element for carryingthe yarn across the needles and another element for depresssing the yarnbetween the needle circle and the yarn feeding fingers.

2. A knitting machine including a circle of independently movableneedles and elements cooperating therewith to form stitches, saidelements including yarn feeding fingers and clamping and cutting meanslocated outside the needle circle, and means arranged to engage a yarnwhich is to be rendered active and locate it in position to be engagedby a needle, said last named means including one element for carryingthe yarn across the needles and another element for depressing the yarnbetween the needle circle and the yarn feeding fingers, the last elementmoving to depress the yarn simultaneously with the movement of thefeeding finger of the yarn to bring it into activity.

3. A knitting machine including a circle of independently movableneedles and elements cooperating therewith to form stitches, saidelements including yarn feeding fingers and clamping and cutting meanslocated outside the needle circle, and means arranged to engage a yarnwhich is to be rendered active and locate it in position to be engagedby a needle, said last named means including one element for carryingthe yarn across the needles and another element for depressing the yarnbetween the needle circle and the yarn feeding fingers, and devices foroperating the parts sequentially so that, first, the finger carrying theyarn to be inserted'is'lowered and the yarn is simultaneously carriedacross the needles and depressed outside the needle circle whereby it istaken by'a needle,

second, the cutter is opened, releasing the'end' of the newly insertedyarn, and the elements are withdrawn, third the finger carrying the yarnto be rendered inactive is raised, drawing the raised.

active and locate it in position to be engaged by a needle soprojecting.

5. A knitting machine including a series "of independently movableneedles" and elements co-' operating therewith to form stitches, said816: ments including yarn feeding fingers and clamping and cutting meansfor yarn which may be rendered inactive during operation of the machine,the clamping and cutting means including a-movable cutting blade and aflexible member bearing against the blade to clamp yarn between itselfand the blade, the flexible member being secured at an intermediatepoint thereof, and the pressure of the member on the blade beingadjustable by flexure of a part of the flexible member on that side ofthe point at which it is secured opposite its clamping contact with theblade.

6. A knitting machine including a circle of independently movableneedles and elements cooperating therewith to form stitches, said ele-'ing the yarn across the needles and another element for depressing theyarn between the needle circle and the yarn feeding fingers, the elementfor carrying the yarn'across the needles having a hook arranged toreceive the yarn. 9

7. A knitting machine including a circle of independently movableneedles and elements 00-- operating therewith to form stitches, saidelements including yarn feeding fingers and damp" ing and cutting meanslocated outside the needle circle, and means arranged to engagea yarnwhich is to be rendered active and locate it in position to be engagedby a needle, said last named means including one element for carryingthe yarn across the needles and another ele-' ment for depressing 'theyarn between the needle circle and the yarn feeding fingers, the elementfor carrying the yarn across the needles having a hook arranged toreceive the yarn, and an ad justable stop 'for locating the hook inprope position relative to the needles.

8. A knitting machine including a circle of independently movableneedles and elements cooperating therewith to form stitches, saidelements including yarn feeding fingers and clamping and cutting meanslocated outside the needle circle, and means arranged to engage a yarnwhich'is to be rendered active and locate it in position to be engagedby "a needle, said last' named means including one element for carryingthe yarn across the needles and another element for depressing the yarnbetween the needle circle and the yarn feeding fingers, one o'f'tlie twolast named elements'being controlled in its movements by the otherwhereby they move'in definite relative relationship.

9. A knitting machine including a circle of independentl'y'movableneedles and elements cooperating therewith to form stitches, saidelements including yarn feeding fingers and clamp-' ing and cuttingmeans located outside the needle which is to'be rendered active andlocate it in position to be engaged by a needle, said last named meansincluding one element for carrying the yarn across the needles andanother elerelative relationship. 7

1'0. A'knitting machine including a circle of they move in definiteindependently movable needles and elements cooperating therewith to formstitches, said elements including yarn feeding fingers and clamping andcutting means located outside the needle circle, and means arranged toengage a yarn which is to be rendered active and locate it in positionto be engaged by a needle, said last named means including an elementfor carrying the yarn across the needles and downward within the needlecircle, and means for locating the yarn in position to be engaged bysaid element, said means engaging the yarn between the clamp and theyarn feeding fingers.

11. A knitting machine including a series of independently movableneedles and elements cooperating therewith to form stitches, saidelements including yarn feeding fingers and clamping and cutting meansfor yarn which may be rendered inactive during operation of the machine,the clamping and cutting means including a pivoted movable cuttingblade, a flexible member secured at the pivot of the blade and arrangedto bear against the blade to clamp yarn between itself and the blade,and means for adjusting the pressure of the member on the blade, saidmeans causing flexure of a part of the blade on the side of the pivotopposite the clamping contact of the member and blade.

12. A knitting machine including a stationary circle of independentlymovable needles and elements cooperating therewith to form stitches,revolving yarn supplying means, yarn changing means revolving with theyarn supplying means, said yarn changing means including a plurality ofyarn feeding fingers, clamping means, and cutting means, and a camsupported by a stationary part of the machine and bodily movable todifferent positions to cooperate with the yarn changing means, said camhaving substantial angular extent and being stepped to effect in propersequence by its operation upon a single follower the engagement of aclamped yarn with a needle, release of such yarn from the clamp, removalof another yarn from knitting position, and severance of the last namedyarn.

13. A knitting machine including a stationary circle of independentlymovable needles and elements cooperating therewith to form stitches,revolving yarn supplying means, yarn changing means revolving with theyarn supplying means, said yarn changing means including a plurality ofyarn feeding fingers, clamping means, and cutting means, and a camsupported by a stationary part of the machine and radially movable todifferent positions to cooperate with the yarn changing means, said camhaving substantial angular extent and being stepped to effect, byradially moving a single follower, in proper sequence, the engagement ofa clamped yarn with a needle, release of such yarn from the clamp,removal of another yarn from knitting position, and severance of thelast named yarn.

14. A knitting machine including a stationary circle of independentlymovable needles and elements cooperating therewith to form stitches,

revolvingyarn supplying means, yarn changing means revolving with theyarn supplying means, and including clamping and cutting mechanism, acam supported by a stationary part of the machine and bodily movableradially to different positions, said cam having substantialcircumferential extent and an operating portion to effect a series ofsuccessive operations of the yarn changing means including operations ofthe clamping and cutting mechanism, and a single follower arranged to bemoved radially by said cam, the follower having imparted to itsuccessive additive movements by the cam in the same direction toproduce said successive operations.

15. A knitting machine including a stationary circle of independentlymovable needles and elements cooperating therewith to form stitches,revolving yarn supplying means, yarn changing means revolving with theyarn supplying means, a cam supported by a stationary part of themachine and bodily movable radially to different positions, said camhaving substantial circumferential extent and an operating portion onone side thereof to effect a series of successive operations of the yarnchanging means, and a follower arranged to be moved radially by saidoperating portion of the cam, said follower normally moving, when noyarn changes are to be made, past the opposite side of said cam.

16. A knitting machine including a stationary circle of independentlymovable needles and elements cooperating therewith to form stitches,revolving yarn supplying means, yarn changing means revolving with theyarn supplying means, a cam supported by a stationary part of themachine and bodily movable to difljerent positions, said cam havingsubstantial circumferential extent and an operating portion to effect aseries of successive operations of the yarn changing means, a followerarranged to be acted upon by the operating portion of said cam, andmeans for moving the cam to position to act on the follower, thefollower serving initially to move the cam to an extreme position beyondthat to which it is moved by the last named means.

17. A knitting machine including a stationary circle of independentlymovable needles and elements cooperating therewith to form stitches,revolving yarn supplying means, yarn changing means revolving with theyarn supplying means, a cam supported by a stationary part of themachine and bodily movable to different positions, said cam havingsubstantial circumferential extent and an operating portion to effect aseries of successive operations of the yarn changing means, a followerarranged to be acted upon by the operating portion of said cam, andmeans for moving the cam to position to act on the follower, thefollower serving initially to move the cam to an extreme position beyondthat to which it is moved by the last named means, the cam normallybeing positioned, when no yarn changes are being made, so that thefollower passes to the side opposite the operating portion.

HAROLD E. HOUSEMAN.

